Saturday, October 10, 2009

#26) STEVE DILLON

Steve Dillon was selected from the New York Yankees by the New York Mets during the first year player draft on November 26, 1962. The rules then stated that any drafted player must remain on the new team's roster or be returned. So Steve was with the Mets for two seasons, but only appeared in three games during that time. His second year was 1964 the opening year of Shea Stadium. Dillon would only throw one of his career games at the ball park. Just one, but a very distinctive one. Steve threw the final two innings of the first night game ever played at Shea Stadium on May 6, 1964. The Mets fell to the Cincinnati Reds by a score of 12-4 that evening.

Dillon was honored by the Mets in 2009. He was asked to join Bill Wakefield (Mets starting pitcher in 1964) to throw out simultaneous ceremonial first pitches at new Citi Field to commemorate the historical Shea Stadium game. Wise Snacks sponsored the event on July 10, 2009 during the first appearance of the Cincinnati Reds to the new park.

He enjoyed a career as a New York City police officer after retiring from professional baseball in 1964.

Steve Dillon signed his card from the set on October 28, 2008 from a mailed request to his home address.

No comments:

Post a Comment

PROJECT STATUS

Current Count of 712 of 791 players.

90.0% Complete

( 7 -Special Moment cards)

Project started in October 2008.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The New York Mets and all their fans bid farewell to a major part of their history at the close of the 2008 baseball season. Shea Stadium had been our summer home for 45 years. So many memories were built there by the 790 players that appeared in a game for the Mets during that time. In celebration of that I created a set of handmade cards featuring each one of these men. My design was done in such a way as to allow an autograph to be included. I am now in the process of having each one signed by those players. This blog will feature the cards as I get them completed. I hope you enjoy following my progress and reliving the careers of these great men that will always be our Mets.

ABOUT ME

I am a lifelong New York Mets fan that grew up in the midwest. I have followed the club and it's rich array of characters throughout the years. Perhaps the most special of which are the "one game" appearances. These men each have a terrific story and honor the legacy of the great Archibald "Moonlight" Graham.
As an autograph collector of the Mets team I will be posting my successes here as well. The focus of my collection is to add a signed baseball card for each man to appear in a game for the Mets. I will be posting examples of these here.